Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-09-29
Variety of Food For Hogs.


making pork in the western states cp-
pears To be demonstrated beyond a
doubt. Several farmers in central I'LL
nois have reported that they are able TO
make pound of pork from ten pounds
of corn, or six pounds from every bushel
fed to their hogs. If they rise 20 bush els
of corn on an acre of land they obtain
420 pounds of pork, worth at 3 cents per
pound S2l. This is more than can be
reelized for any kind of small grain,
The fertility of the soil is soon exhaust
ed when successive crops of small grain
are raised on it, Such is not the case,
however, If corn is raised, fed 10 hogs
on the place, and the manure they make
applied to the land. A crop OF corn can
be raised and harvested without the ne
oessity of paying out much money. The
seed costs but trife, and there is no bill
for the use of a harvester or thrashing-
machine. A corn crop can be produced
by the use of the labor and implements
that almost every farmer has. Pork can
be sent to market much cheaper than
small grain.
A prairie farm chiefly devoted TO rails
ing corn and feeding it to hogs is very
cheaply fitted up, stocked, and managed.
It costs but little to make shelter for
hogs that will keep them dry and warm.
A fair crop of corn can be raised on new
breaking. Old ground intended for pro
ducing corn can be plowed in the fall or
the following spring. Almost any kind
of manure is beneficial 10 a corn crop.
The planting of corn can be delayed
much longer than the sowing of small
grains. The work of cultivation can be
performed by a variety of implements.
Hands that are less skillful than those
required to raise many crops can plant,
cultivate, and harvest corn. But few
fences are required on farm devoted TO
raising corn and feeding hogs Hogs
multiply so rapidly and mature so quick
ly that it does not take a long time TO
stock a farm with them or TO realize
money from them. In these respects
they possess great advantages over cattle
and horses. farmer who has but small
means can not engage in most kinds of
stock raising, but he can raise hogs by
producing the corn for feeding TO them.
Still it has become obvious that raising
hogs on diet of corn has been produc-
tive of unfavorable results. An exclusive
NOAAl hiNb ubNn u0b HtOhhNH hlAb At4 hAeANN
proportions of bone and muscle in ami
mails. IL contains too much carbon and
not enough nitrogen. Breeding sows
that eat little or nothing except corn are
pork mothers. They generally produce
but small filters of pigs, and they give
but little milk. Pigs brought up on corn
alone appear TO have but little vitality,
They are not as lively as those that en-
Joy the privileges of free range and
eat a variety of food. They appear to be
more likely TO contract disease. The hog
has become more delicate since it was
kept in pens and has had corn brought TO
his trough. Duling the past few years
diseases have been more common aud
more generally fatal among hogs than
among horses, cattle, or sheep. On this
account many farmers have abandoned
pork-raising or keep only enough hogs
to supply their households with meat,
They do not dare take the risks thar at
tend keeping large numbers of hogs and
feeding them the corn they raise,
The most successful hog raisers now
advocate the substitution of other grains
and vegetables for half the corn they for
merly fed, and they rely chiefly on cora
for making fat, but they give their hogs
bran, shorts, ground rye, oats and barley
boiled potatoes, roots, apples, pumpkins
and squashes. They find the health and
general condition of their hogs better
when they are allowed a change of food
They are better breeders and the SOW
gives more milk. The pork produced is
not as fat as that made from corn, but II
is generally preferred. There is less
leaf lard but more meat that is suitable
for making bacon. The hogs are more
active and take more exercise. For thi'
reason their circulation and digestion are
better, If they do not mature as quickl!
the risks of keeping them are less. IL il
admitted that the cost of feeding them II
somewhat greater, as it costs consider
able TO grind the small grains, and tC
cook the potatoes and other vegetables
A more diversified system of farming il
required if many hogs are kept on place
and corn only furnishes half the food
that is given them.
| 1t is obvious that some substitute fo
corn must be found in many portions Of
| the country that are now being settled
up. Much of the territory adapted &c
| the profitable production Of corn is al
ready in the hands of individuals who
/ have approved it. What is known as th'
corn belt is somewhat narrow and it doe
not reach across the continent. The far
mers who make homes in these region
will find il difficult to get along wi,hou
raising hogs. They will at first miss
corn, but they will at length discover tina
they can make the production Of porl
profitable without it. They will follow
the example of farmers in Canada, Grea
4 Britain and &c many, who make pork b.
raising rye, barley, oats, potatoes ant
roots and feeding them to hogs Shouts
a general drouth continue many NOR
1 years In portions of the corn belt the far
mers who live in it will be obliged to Civ
up keeping hogs on an extensive scale
| to find kind of food for them differ
ent from what they have been accustome
/ to use.
/ A Loyal Womans Tact
A well known poet Of Spain, says LET